the ends justify the means who said

The phrase "the ends justify the means" is most commonly attributed to Niccolò Machiavelli, a Renaissance political philosopher. While Machiavelli never explicitly used this exact phrase, his work "The Prince" implies the idea that achieving a goal, especially political power or state stability, can justify the use of morally questionable methods. This concept is linked to consequentialism, where the morality of an action is judged based on its outcomes rather than intrinsic qualities. However, the phrase may have earlier origins, including possible references in Latin literature by Ovid, and it has also been connected to Jesuit teachings, though the exact origin remains uncertain and debated among scholars.